June 28, 2022
This summer, Rad Air Complete Car Care and Tire Centers, Northeast Ohio’s leader in automotive repair and maintenance services, has partnered with the Soap Box Derby to provide industry insights to Akron-area school students over the summer.
“We were exploring programs where we could work with school students and share our perspectives and insights on our industry. After meeting with the Soap Box Derby team, we knew we found the perfect match,” said Bill Snow, VP of Franchise Development and Operations for Rad Air Complete Car Care. “We look forward to helping students and racers understand alignments and how STEM is applied in our industry.”
Rad Air team members from the main office and various shop locations will be involved in the initiative, sharing insights on how STEM is applied in the automotive aftermarket, how vehicles are aligned, and why alignments are important to racers in the Soap Box Derby. These conversations also present an important opportunity to introduce students to different career paths in the automotive industry.
“We are excited to be partnering with Rad Air and their team to deliver additional benefits to our education programs,” said Mark Gerberich, President and CEO of Soap Box Derby. “Their team has great expertise in the field and they provide real-world experience. The other important piece that ties into the Akron Public Schools College and Career Training is their ability to share about careers in these auto-related fields.”
For more information regarding Rad Air’s involvement with Soap Box Derby or other community engagement opportunities, please direct inquiries to Bill Snow at 216.510.3555 or bill@radair.com.
About the Soap Box Derby
The International Soap Box Derby® is a non-profit youth education and leadership development organization whose mission is to build knowledge and character, and to create meaningful experiences through fair and honest racing competitions, STEM curriculums, and other community-focused activities. The Derby’s Core Values and Drivers include: Youth Education and Leadership Development; Family Engagement and Enrichment; Honesty, Integrity and Perseverance; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Teamwork and Collaboration; Mentoring; Volunteerism; and Commitment to Community. The Derby’s two youth initiatives are the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby racing program and the STEM-based Education Program, which provides educational opportunities for K-12 youth worldwide through Soap Box Derby racing. The Derby dates back to 1934, when the first All-American race was held in Dayton, Ohio. Visit soapboxderby.org for more information.